Formula 1 2012: Ferrari Prepared to Sacrifice Aesthetics for Speed

With the season-opening Australian Grand Prix now less than two months away, the time has come for Formula One's giants to come out of hibernation and reveal their latest machines.

Unfortunately for Ferrari, the excitement surrounding the launch of their new car for the 2012 season, scheduled for the 3rd of February at the team's Maranello base, has been dampened by a flood of information released in the Italian press.

Italian Technical Illustrator, Giorgio Piola, was the first to reveal the information, before detailed drawings of the new car appeared inAutosprint.

Perhaps the biggest performance-related revelation so far, according to those sources, is that the new Ferrari will feature a pull-rod suspension system—a clear attempt to mirror what Red Bull have been using since 2009.

The car is also reported to have at least two very different visual features. A new dipped nose cone, designed to meet the new requirements for front wings in 2012, is said to have a 'hump' in it—a feature that is likely to change the look of the car significantly. The sidepods on the car will also be much higher than in previous years.

So, will we really be looking at a hideous Ferrari in 2012?

Ferrari president Luca di Montezemelo has already described the car as being "ugly," with team principal, Stefano Domenicali, seeming to agree with him, saying the car will be "really extreme."

One thing is certain: if the new car wins Ferrari the World Championship Title, no one at the team will care about how the car looks as it crosses the finish line.